Jackets Open O’Keefe Play with a Victory

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech volleyball (1-0) opened its 2019 campaign on Friday night with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Long Beach State (0-1) in front of a rambunctious crowd in O’Keefe Gymnasium on day one of the Georgia Tech Invitational.

How it happened:Tech came out ready to go, jumping to an early 8-4 lead on a kill from senior Kodie Comby. The Beach climbed back into it, coming within one at 19-18 and the Jackets called timeout. Freshman Erin Moss threw down a kill coming out of the timeout but LBSU tallied two in a row to knot the score at 20-20. The teams battled back and forth to a tie at 23-23 but back-to-back kills from all-ACC sophomore Mikaila Dowd pocketed the first set for the Jackets at 25-23.

The second set started close with the two teams trading points to a tie at 8-8. A kill from Moss sparked a 4-0 run for Tech and Long Beach State called a timeout with the score at 12-8 on a kill from Dowd. The Jackets held onto their lead for the rest of the set, taking set point at 24-19 on a kill from junior Grace Rigsbee before a kill from Comby put Tech ahead 2-0 with a 25-20 win in the second.

The third was another close battle, Tech snuck ahead to lead 9-7 on a service ace from sophomore Matti McKissock and Long Beach State called timeout. The Beach tied it up at 11-11 and took a two-point lead, causing the Jackets to use their first timeout trailing 13-11. LBSU stayed ahead but the Jackets didn’t let up, bringing the tally within one at 20-19, combining back-to-back kills from junior Cori Clifton with an attack error. The Beach pushed back up 22-19 but freshman Julia Bergmann and Rigsbee brought Tech back within one at 22-21. Long Beach State reached set point at 24-22 but an attack error and two consecutive aces from Bergmann gave Tech the advantage at 25-24. The teams battled back and forth but Long Beach State snuck ahead to steal back the set at 28-26.

Long Beach jumped to an early lead at 7-3 in the fourth. Tech clawed its way back, using a 5-0 run to come within one at 11-10. The Jackets kept it close, staying within three until another 5-0 run sparked by a kill from Bergmann put the White and Gold ahead by one at 17-16. The teams battled back and forth and the Jackets reached match point at 24-20. However, the Beach weren’t going to go down that easily and came back to knot the score at 24-24. Trading points to another tie at 28-28, a kill from Comby once again gave Tech match point before Bergmann tallied the final kill for the Jackets at 30-28 for the 3-1 victory.

Up next:The Jackets finish out the invitational on Saturday, facing both Southern University and UNC Asheville. The Jackets will take on Southern (0-1) at 1 p.m. and UNC Asheville at 7 p.m., both matches will be broadcast on ACCNX.

ACC Network has launched!The ACC Network is a linear and digital platform dedicated to 24/7 coverage of ACC sports that launched on Aug. 22, 2019. It will exclusively televise approximately 450 live events each year, including 40 football games (beginning with Georgia Tech’s 2019 season opener at Clemson on Aug. 29), as well as 150 men’s and women’s basketball contests.

Don’t get shut out! For more information and to learn if your cable/satellite/digital provider is carrying the ACC Network, visit GetACCN.com. Georgia Tech fans whose cable/satellite/digital providers aren’t carrying the ACC Network are urged to contact their providers and ask for the ACC Network to be a part of their subscription.

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